What is the cost of living in Northbrook, IL?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Northbrook has an overall cost of living index of 151, which is 1.5x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Illinois, Northbrook has a cost of living index that's 1.5x higher than Illinois's index of 98.
The standard of living in Northbrook ranks as #320 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in Illinois. By definition, that implies Northbrook ranks as the #16 most expensive place in the Prairie State.
For more reading on life in Northbrook, check out:
Northbrook Cost Of Living Vs. Illinois
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Northbrook. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Northbrook is 102.
The Groceries index in Northbrook is 99.
The Health index in Northbrook is 274.
The Housing index in Northbrook is 104.
The Transportation index in Northbrook is 102.
The Utilities index in Northbrook is 95.
| Living Expense | Northbrook | Illinois | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 151 | 98 | 100 |
| Services | 102 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 99 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 274 | 96 | 100 |
| Housing | 104 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 102 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 95 | 101 | 100 |
Northbrook Cost Of Living Compared To Illinois Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Illinois, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Northbrook Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Northbrook, IL Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Illinois, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Northbrook is $688,265.
The Median Rent in Northbrook is $2,463.
The Median Income in Northbrook is $157,782.
The Home Value To Income in Northbrook is 4.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Northbrook is 0.19x.
| Statistic | Northbrook | Illinois | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $688,265 | $285,735 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,463 | $1,274 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $157,782 | $83,390 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.4x | 3.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.19x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
Northbrook, IL Costs By Category
Detailed Northbrook Services costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Northbrook | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.27 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $17.91 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $24.58 | $18 |
| Haircut | $33.69 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $53.44 | $45.56 |
Detailed Northbrook Groceries costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Northbrook | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.28 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.42 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.87 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.9 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $13.41 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.0 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.75 | $3.7 |
Detailed Northbrook Health costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Northbrook | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $118.27 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $167.67 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $128.22 | $113.29 |
Detailed Northbrook Transportation costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Northbrook | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.56 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $70.87 | $59.92 |
Detailed Northbrook Utilities costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Northbrook | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $148.58 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $210.03 | $192.25 |
Northbrook SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Northbrook
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Northbrook. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Arlington Heights, IL has a cost of living index of 125, 0.8x Northbrook.
Glenview, IL has a cost of living index of 146, 1.0x Northbrook.
Elmhurst, IL has a cost of living index of 134, 0.9x Northbrook.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Northbrook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arlington Heights, IL | 76,005 | 125 | 0.8x |
| Glenview, IL | 47,752 | 146 | 1.0x |
| Elmhurst, IL | 45,671 | 134 | 0.9x |
| Buffalo Grove, IL | 42,891 | 126 | 0.8x |
| Park Ridge, IL | 38,667 | 135 | 0.9x |
| Wheeling, IL | 38,433 | 103 | 0.7x |
| Highland Park, IL | 30,398 | 144 | 1.0x |
| Wilmette, IL | 27,503 | 161 | 1.1x |
| Lake Zurich, IL | 19,832 | 122 | 0.8x |
| Deerfield, IL | 19,518 | 148 | 1.0x |
